The End of an Era
The Green Man Gallery closes its doors
After 12 years operating as a gallery and arts centre, we have taken the very difficult decision to close The Green Man Gallery just before Christmas this year. Our final day of public opening will be Sunday 22nd December 2024.
There are several reasons why we have no alternative and these are summarised below:
Our current 'meanwhile' lease expires at the end of 2024
We have occupied our current premises since 2014 on a series of 'meanwhile' leases because the future of our very old and delapidated building has always been uncertain. We have not paid rent during that time but we have been responsible for all of the running costs. Even without rent, these running costs have recently become unsustainable due to rising costs, particularly in heating and lighting. The buidling is in dire need of refurbishment and modernisation and with no insulation or double glazing, the gas bills in particular are enormous.
We have been offered a new meanwhile lease with 6 months notice on either side but with a rent equivalent to £5,000 p/annum.
Our Venue Manager (and main administrator) is retiring
We have always operated without paid staff. Our 'management model' has always been the same: the Resident Artists give their time to manage and run the gallery as part of their payment for permanent exhibition space. We have also been assisted over the years by some wonderful volunteers from the local community whose help with day-to-day running has been invaluable.
In 12 years, The Green Man has developed from a 6-month pop-up to a dynamic arts centre. Apart from a few very small grants for equipment and one small project grant, it has always been completely self-financing.
Unfortunately since 2022, rises in the cost of living have forced many artists to take on more paid work in order to pay their own bills leaving them less and less time to take on management tasks for the gallery. When our Venue Manager (Caroline Small) steps down there will be no one with the capacity to manage the business or to earn the income from events and venue hire which has sustained us so far. This is a huge job and it is no longer feasible for it to be taken on by a volunteer.
What about funding?
Applying for funding is not (and has never been) an option for us because a premises-based organisation needs security of tenure before funding bodies will consider an application.
There are still no clear plans for the future of the building.
It's not all doom and gloom..!
A consultation into the future of arts provision in Buxton has started and we hosted two open discussion meetings 16th October which were very well attended. We hope to have more news early in 2025.
The Green Man Gallery closes its doors
After 12 years operating as a gallery and arts centre, we have taken the very difficult decision to close The Green Man Gallery just before Christmas this year. Our final day of public opening will be Sunday 22nd December 2024.
There are several reasons why we have no alternative and these are summarised below:
Our current 'meanwhile' lease expires at the end of 2024
We have occupied our current premises since 2014 on a series of 'meanwhile' leases because the future of our very old and delapidated building has always been uncertain. We have not paid rent during that time but we have been responsible for all of the running costs. Even without rent, these running costs have recently become unsustainable due to rising costs, particularly in heating and lighting. The buidling is in dire need of refurbishment and modernisation and with no insulation or double glazing, the gas bills in particular are enormous.
We have been offered a new meanwhile lease with 6 months notice on either side but with a rent equivalent to £5,000 p/annum.
Our Venue Manager (and main administrator) is retiring
We have always operated without paid staff. Our 'management model' has always been the same: the Resident Artists give their time to manage and run the gallery as part of their payment for permanent exhibition space. We have also been assisted over the years by some wonderful volunteers from the local community whose help with day-to-day running has been invaluable.
In 12 years, The Green Man has developed from a 6-month pop-up to a dynamic arts centre. Apart from a few very small grants for equipment and one small project grant, it has always been completely self-financing.
Unfortunately since 2022, rises in the cost of living have forced many artists to take on more paid work in order to pay their own bills leaving them less and less time to take on management tasks for the gallery. When our Venue Manager (Caroline Small) steps down there will be no one with the capacity to manage the business or to earn the income from events and venue hire which has sustained us so far. This is a huge job and it is no longer feasible for it to be taken on by a volunteer.
What about funding?
Applying for funding is not (and has never been) an option for us because a premises-based organisation needs security of tenure before funding bodies will consider an application.
There are still no clear plans for the future of the building.
It's not all doom and gloom..!
A consultation into the future of arts provision in Buxton has started and we hosted two open discussion meetings 16th October which were very well attended. We hope to have more news early in 2025.